Canon Discussion: The Three Gables
Feb. 21st, 2016 08:01 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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sherlock60This week we’re having a look at The Three Gables. I’ve typed up a few thoughts and questions to get the discussion going—please leave your own ideas in the comments!
3GAB is a bit of an odd one. We have the negative racial stereotyping of Steve Dixie. (I realise ACD was a man of his time, but this characterisation in 3GAB just seems bizarre when compared to YELL.) We have Holmes apparently being racist: "Lookin' for your gun, Masser Holmes?" "No, for my scent-bottle, Steve." "You are funny, Masser Holmes, ain't you?" There’s an odd strain of knockabout comedy in reference to the servant, Susan: Then he strode across the room, flung open the door, and dragged in a great gaunt woman whom he had seized by the shoulder. She entered with ungainly struggle like some huge awkward chicken, torn, squawking, out of its coop. And Holmes’ personality seems slightly “off” all the way through.
We’ve recently had MAZA—it has to be said that Steve Dixie is very like Sam Merton. Susan’s entrance and exit seem very theatrical (in the literal sense) to me. And there seems to be an emphasis on Susan as a broadly comic character. Was 3GAB planned as a possible play? And playing the Game—3GAB is narrated by Watson, but did someone else actually pen the story? This might explain the unevenness of tone.
But putting aside the odd characterisations of Steve Dixie, Susan and Holmes himself, there is a lot I like about this story. I find the central puzzle and its solution satisfying. And Mrs. Maberley is a wonderful character.
I believe that my late husband, Mortimer Maberley, was one of your early clients. Any thoughts on what the case might have been?
"He was attache at Rome, and he died there of pneumonia last month… His heart was broken. In a single month I seemed to see my gallant boy turn into a worn-out cynical man." Did the attack on Douglas Maberley lead to him developing pneumonia? Is Mrs. Klein perhaps guilty of Maberley’s manslaughter?
"Have these things taken upstairs to your bedroom. Examine them as soon as possible and see what they contain. I will come tomorrow and hear your report." Why not wait and hear the report at once?
"It won't be funny for you, Steve, if I get after you. I gave you fair warning this morning." "Well, Masser Holmes, I done gone think over what you said, and I don't want no more talk about that affair of Masser Perkins. S'pose I can help you, Masser Holmes, I will." There seems to be the clear implication that Dixie was involved in Perkins’ death. Should Holmes be writing off his guilt like this in order to get Dixie to help him?
Holmes discreetly helped Langdale to knowledge, and on occasion was helped in turn. This seems like such an unlikely relationship—Holmes working together with a scandalmonger. But this previous discussion post has an excellent suggestion: ...is this the way [Holmes] extracts punishment from people he otherwise cannot touch for justice, no matter how much they deserve it?
“Now, Mr. Holmes, granting that I was too hard on Douglas—and, God knows, I am sorry for it!—what else could I do with my whole future at stake?" I do have some sympathy for Mrs. Klein. She’s a ruthless woman who apparently believes her beauty and money allow her to get away with anything she wants. And Douglas Maberley’s beating may have contributed to his death. But I don’t think she ever led Maberley to believe their relationship was anything more than an affair. He was a grown man, not an innocent—when Mrs. Klein ended the relationship he should have walked away, not continually insist that she marry him.
"Well, well," said he, "I suppose I shall have to compound a felony as usual.” Was Holmes right not to turn Mrs. Klein over to the police with regards to the burglary? Mrs. Maberley was assaulted and could have been badly hurt. And will Mrs. Maberley accept the money? Surely she’ll ask Holmes where it’s come from.
Next Sunday, 28th February, we’ll be having a look at The Blanched Soldier. Hope you can join us then.
3GAB is a bit of an odd one. We have the negative racial stereotyping of Steve Dixie. (I realise ACD was a man of his time, but this characterisation in 3GAB just seems bizarre when compared to YELL.) We have Holmes apparently being racist: "Lookin' for your gun, Masser Holmes?" "No, for my scent-bottle, Steve." "You are funny, Masser Holmes, ain't you?" There’s an odd strain of knockabout comedy in reference to the servant, Susan: Then he strode across the room, flung open the door, and dragged in a great gaunt woman whom he had seized by the shoulder. She entered with ungainly struggle like some huge awkward chicken, torn, squawking, out of its coop. And Holmes’ personality seems slightly “off” all the way through.
We’ve recently had MAZA—it has to be said that Steve Dixie is very like Sam Merton. Susan’s entrance and exit seem very theatrical (in the literal sense) to me. And there seems to be an emphasis on Susan as a broadly comic character. Was 3GAB planned as a possible play? And playing the Game—3GAB is narrated by Watson, but did someone else actually pen the story? This might explain the unevenness of tone.
But putting aside the odd characterisations of Steve Dixie, Susan and Holmes himself, there is a lot I like about this story. I find the central puzzle and its solution satisfying. And Mrs. Maberley is a wonderful character.
I believe that my late husband, Mortimer Maberley, was one of your early clients. Any thoughts on what the case might have been?
"He was attache at Rome, and he died there of pneumonia last month… His heart was broken. In a single month I seemed to see my gallant boy turn into a worn-out cynical man." Did the attack on Douglas Maberley lead to him developing pneumonia? Is Mrs. Klein perhaps guilty of Maberley’s manslaughter?
"Have these things taken upstairs to your bedroom. Examine them as soon as possible and see what they contain. I will come tomorrow and hear your report." Why not wait and hear the report at once?
"It won't be funny for you, Steve, if I get after you. I gave you fair warning this morning." "Well, Masser Holmes, I done gone think over what you said, and I don't want no more talk about that affair of Masser Perkins. S'pose I can help you, Masser Holmes, I will." There seems to be the clear implication that Dixie was involved in Perkins’ death. Should Holmes be writing off his guilt like this in order to get Dixie to help him?
Holmes discreetly helped Langdale to knowledge, and on occasion was helped in turn. This seems like such an unlikely relationship—Holmes working together with a scandalmonger. But this previous discussion post has an excellent suggestion: ...is this the way [Holmes] extracts punishment from people he otherwise cannot touch for justice, no matter how much they deserve it?
“Now, Mr. Holmes, granting that I was too hard on Douglas—and, God knows, I am sorry for it!—what else could I do with my whole future at stake?" I do have some sympathy for Mrs. Klein. She’s a ruthless woman who apparently believes her beauty and money allow her to get away with anything she wants. And Douglas Maberley’s beating may have contributed to his death. But I don’t think she ever led Maberley to believe their relationship was anything more than an affair. He was a grown man, not an innocent—when Mrs. Klein ended the relationship he should have walked away, not continually insist that she marry him.
"Well, well," said he, "I suppose I shall have to compound a felony as usual.” Was Holmes right not to turn Mrs. Klein over to the police with regards to the burglary? Mrs. Maberley was assaulted and could have been badly hurt. And will Mrs. Maberley accept the money? Surely she’ll ask Holmes where it’s come from.
Next Sunday, 28th February, we’ll be having a look at The Blanched Soldier. Hope you can join us then.
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no subject
Date: 2016-02-21 12:30 pm (UTC)And maybe a note to the Duke of Lomond's mother, suggesting she ask Klein whether she knew Douglas Maberley, might be of use.
no subject
Date: 2016-02-21 01:23 pm (UTC)In fact, it's not clear why he wants to avoid turning Mrs. Klein in. Because he'd rather recover the novel instead? But it's not something precious to Douglas' mother - she hadn't even known it existed. I suppose he might have wanted to recover the novel to have it published and expose Mrs. Klein as Maberley had intended. But having her arrested for burglary would have a similar result.
Was he hoping to avoid turning her into the police simply so he could get some money out of her as compensation for Mrs. Maberley? That seems the best explanation I think.
I'm not sure that Holmes would then go and try and scupper the marriage (though maybe he should. Can't help but feel a little sorry for the Duke). It seems a bit underhand for Holmes - he has already sort of implied that he's going to leave Mrs. Klein alone now.
no subject
Date: 2016-02-21 05:32 pm (UTC)The duke, and even more his mother, might not be hapless innocents. Presumably the mother finds Mrs Klein acceptable despite her reputation; and probably in that era sexual freedom would be considered worse than arranging a burglary. I'd say her money must be quite urgently needed. In five or ten years, if the Duke has got tired of her, the younger duchess might be the one to be sorry for. I believe an aristocrat could arrange a divorce more easlily then.
no subject
Date: 2016-02-21 06:28 pm (UTC)This is an excellent point - I hadn't thought about this at all. The Duke's youth does sort of imply he's smitten with Mrs. Klein's beauty - but perhaps he is equally smitten with her money. Perhaps the two of them are well-suited after all.